VDOT News - Bristol

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway construction and maintenance projects in southwestern Virginia. When traveling through highway work zones, use caution and be alert to changes in traffic patterns and slow-moving or stopped traffic.

To help motorists take the guesswork out of travel plans, call VDOT’s 511 or visit http://www.511virginia.org for real-time traffic information.

Underlined entries with asterisks (***) indicate the listing is new or the status of the project has changed since last week’s traffic alert.

INTERSTATE PROJECTS

***Interstate 77 East River Mountain Tunnel: Due to drainage work northbound at I-77 East River Mountain Tunnel, motorists can expect a nighttime left lane closure Monday night, weather permitting. Wide loads over 12 feet must stop prior to the tunnel entrance during the lane closure.

Interstate 81 – Exit 14: Work is underway to reconstruct Interstate 81 exit 14 to better accommodate traffic volumes and to replace the north and southbound interstate 81 bridges at exit 14. Motorists should be alert to the possibility of day/night lane closures on Old Jonesboro Road, as well as the possibility of nighttime lane closures on Interstate 81 north and south. (Completion: fall 2018)

Interstate 77 Exit 32: The right shoulder of the I-77 northbound exit 32 ramp is closed for shoulder widening operations. This work is part of a project to add a merge lane on I-77 northbound, beginning at Interstate 77 exit 32 and extending to the I-77/I-81 overlap at Interstate 81 exit 80. Use caution in this area. (Completion: September 2018)

Interstate 77 northbound at East River Mountain Tunnel: WVDOT will complete northbound I-77 paving between exits 1 and 9 in August, eliminating the need for one-lane traffic northbound at East River Mountain Tunnel. Until the northbound work is finalized, use caution in this area and plan for significant delays, especially during weekend afternoons.

***I-81 bridges over Halls Bottom Road: Due to a bridge replacement project on Interstate 81 at the bridges over Halls Bottom Road, motorists should be alert to work along the media southbound. Crews plan to reopen Route 808 (Halls Bottom Road) beneath the interstate bridges this week. Halls Bottom Road has been closed to ensure safety. (Completion: Fall 2018)

***Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: This week, be alert to the following lane closures on interstates in southwest Virginia: Interstate 77:- no lane closures are scheduled; however, be alert to maintenance work along the shoulder such as debris removal. Interstate 81:- nighttime lane closures near exit 35 in the Chilhowie area of Smyth County due to bridge repairs. - daytime bridge repairs southbound between milemarkers 59 and 58 in Wythe County - nighttime paving between northbound exits 70 and 72 in the Wytheville area of Wythe County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Buchanan County

Route 609 at intersection of Route 460 Connector Phase II: Due to construction of the 460 Connector Phase II, motorists should be alert to the possibility of flaggers periodically directing traffic where the road intersects with Route 609. The Route 460 Connector Phase II is a 6.2-mile limited access highway being built almost entirely on a new location. Phase II is located between the U.S. Route 460 Connector Phase I, near Breaks Interstate Park, Route 460 and a connection with proposed Route 121 in Buchanan County.

Dickenson County

Route 739 bridge project: Due to bridge work by the US Army Corps of Engineers at John Flannagan Dam, traffic has been restricted to one, 10-foot-wide lane across the Route 739 bridge in Dickenson County. (Completion: Fall 2018)

Sewer line installation - Route 83 and connecting secondary routes: Sewer line installation work is underway along Route 83 and connecting secondary routes in Dickenson County, between Clintwood and the Wise County line. Use caution in this area and pay close attention to workers in the work zone. (Completion: Summer 2019)

Russell County

***Alternate Route 58 East – bridge repairs: Be alert to bridge repairs on eastbound Alternate Route 58 just west of Hansonville in Russell County. The bridge is located .70 mile from Route 613. (Completion: September 2018)

Route 23 bridge replacement at Weber City: Due to replacement of the Route 23 bridges over North Fork Holston River in the Weber City area of Scott County, motorists can expect one-lane traffic and a 12-foot-width restriction in each direction. The speed limit in the work zone is 35 mph. (Completion: Summer 2019)

Tazewell County

Route 686 improvement project: Due to improvements to Route 686 (Lick Branch Road) in Tazewell County, be alert to the possibility of delays during daylight hours between Route 631 (Baptist Valley Road) and Route 636 (McGuire Valley Road). (Completion: early September 2018)

***Route 460 bridge over Town Hill Creek - Richlands: Motorists can expect an altered traffic pattern and the possibility of nighttime work due to reconstruction of the Route 460 bridge over Town Hill Creek in Richlands. (Completion: June 2019)

Route 102 bridge replacement: A project to reconstruct the Route 102 bridge over Laurel Fork in the Pocahontas area of Tazewell County is underway. Use caution in this area and be alert to signals controlling one-way traffic across the bridge. (Completion: Spring 2019)

Washington County

Route 91 bridge: Due to replacement of a portion of the Route 91 bridge in the Damascus area of Washington County, traffic is restricted to one 10-foot-wide lane and being controlled by traffic signals. Creeper Trail users should stop and use crosswalk buttons to safely cross Route 91. Use caution in this area. (Completion: April 2019)

Wise County

Business Route 23 bridge: Traffic signals are controlling one-way traffic across the Business Route 23 bridge located near the city limits of Norton while bridge work is underway. The bridge is limited to 12-foot-wide vehicles during construction. Route 610, located underneath the bridge, is closed for safety. (Completion: May 2019)

Completed

Route 641 (Campground Road): Bridge reconstruction along a portion of Route 641 (Campground Road) in Washington County has been completed.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

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